First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

  Sunday, February 5, 2023 5th Sunday after Epiphany Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.  You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Prayer prompt:  Salt and light are not intrinsically valuable per se .  Salt is good (or bad) in a particular context in specific amounts.  A strong light shining directly into your eye is painful, not helpful.  But light reflected off an object that you need or want to see and salt in the right amounts in the right dishes brings out the flavors that you want to taste.  You are salt and light.  Pray tha

  Events this Week Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 5 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. Coffee House (in Fellowship Hall) 9:00 a.m. Town Hall Meeting (in Fellowship Hall) All Sunday School Classes and Rehearsals CANCELED Childcare   (in the Playroom on 2nd Floor) 10:00 a.m. Worship (in Sanctuary) Children's Church Holy Communion 11:30 a.m.  Choir Lunch (at O'Charley's) 4:00 p.m. Youth Group Meeting 6:00 p.m. Service and Missions Committee Meeting (in Fellowship Hall) Monday, February 6 7:30 - 12:30 p.m. Coffee House (in Fellowship Hall) 4:30 p.m. Yoga (in Fellowship Hall) Tuesday, February 7 7:30 - 12:30 p.m. Coffee House (in Fellowship Hall) Wednesday, February 8 ***Learning Center/Preschool/Coffee House Closed*** 10:30 a.m. Bible Study with Pastor Greg Meet in the Library or Join Virtually ( Google Meet link ) 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Family Fellowship (in Fellowship Hall) Program: Book Club with Pastor Greg 6:00 p.m.   Bell Choir Rehearsal (on 2nd Floor) 7:00 p.m. Choir

  Prayers Please be in prayer this week for:   Amy Lee Bessie Costanza Dick Pryor Dodie Render Don Atkins Don Beck Jackie Jones (Ann Waddle's best friend) Jane Coate Jay Bowland Joan Jenkins Joe Horton Kim Smith (Kitty Boaz's daughter) Leo Adames Lew Metts Libby and Ralph Stewart Melanie Cobb (Steve and Diane Miner's daughter) Michael Rowlands (college friend of Hannah Cruse) Nicole Williamson (Greg and Denice Williamson's daughter-in-law) Rayna & Joey Williamson The FPC Christian Ed Program Those affected by Covid-19 Those in Rwanda, South Sudan, and La Gonave Tommy Sallee (our fill-in security guard who needs continued prayers for healing) Wade Rudolph Praises Join us in giving thanks for: Grant funding given to Seasons Respite Care for scholarships! Read more here. Our new children's music teacher, Kate Brister! Read her full bio here.

This year, we are participating in the Tennessee Tree Day on March 18. This is a fun, meaningful, family-friendly event that results in multi-generational benefits to our environment, communities and public health. Members of the FPC Green Team have generously donated 20 trees to our congregation! They have already been purchased and now need to be claimed by you. Have a spot or two on your property that is calling out for foliage?? We have 8 different varieties available but only a few of each kind, so reserve your tree(s) ASAP!  ***The reservation form is available in our email newsletter, paper bulletin, FB group, and by contacting the office at (931) 645-6551 or fpcclarksville@gmail.com. To protect people's contact information, we will not share it publicly on the blog.*** Stipulations You must be available to pick up or receive on Sat, March 18 or Sun, March 19.  If you live within 15 mins of the church, the Green Team can help you plant your tree(s) if you let us know.  Ple

Seasons is honored to announce that we have received a grant from the Clarksville Montgomery County Community Health Foundation (CHF) to pay tuition for participants in our program! Effective Feb. 1, 2023, scholarships will pay tuition costs for all students for a two-day program. If you know of someone who is interested in a day center for adults with special needs - let them know of this ministry of First Presbyterian Church! Contact the church office for more information.

The Middle Tennessee Presbytery has a wonderful opportunity to learn first-hand about the war in Ukraine.  Dr. Ivan Rusyn, president of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv, Ukraine will be with us   on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM   CST at Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church (435 Main Street, Franklin).  Dr. Rusyn is hosted by The Outreach Foundation in Franklin, TN.    The 45-minute presentation followed by coffee and conversation will allow us to receive the latest news about the war in Ukraine and our bond as brothers and sisters in Christ. Please consider joining us for this important, and informative time.

Our Music Director, Hannah Cruse, is seeking beginner-intermediate instrumentalists from our congregation to enrich Sunday worship services this season!  Are you playing an instrument in school right now?  Did you play in high school or college years ago?  Have you been learning an instrument on your own as an adult?  If the answer is YES to any of these questions, you qualify for the job. Degrees and advanced skills are NOT necessary. Whether you read music or play by ear, we can use your abilities in worship. Specifically, you would be adding an instrumental line (melody or duet part, for example) to familiar congregational hymns with organ or piano and choir. We can work with your schedule and find convenient times for you to practice and perform with the music team. This is all about having fun and sharing the joy of music with others! If you're interested, please fill out the form below and Hannah will get back to you ASAP. Thank you!  https://forms.gle/NuvgyYZ7kajEmrGN9 Load

Sunday, January 29, 2023 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Matthew 5:3–12 (ESV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Prayer prompt:  Have you tried to inventory your strengths and weaknesses yet this year?  Would you include meekness as your greatest